Difference Between Antibacterial and Antibiotic

The main difference between antibacterial and antibiotic is that antibacterial is the physical or chemical agents that are used against bacteria while an antibiotic is the physical or chemical agents that are used against microorganisms…

V antibacterial is. Antibiotic

“Anti” means against. Antibacterial means chemicals or drugs that are used against bacteria, while “bio” means “life,” so antibiotics means chemicals or drugs that are used against microorganisms. It means that antibiotics is a broad term that also covers antibacterials. Therefore, we can say that all antibiotics can also use as antibacterials, while all antibacterials are not antibiotics. We can obtain antibacterials and antibiotics naturally or they can be synthesized artificially or semi-synthetically. All these drugs vary in their mode of action or their target. Many other drugs like amoxicillin, cloxacillin, aminoglycosides and cephalosporin etc have been discovered now.

Comparison chart

Antibacterials are the compounds or agents that are used to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria that are harmful to the body. So these are the substances that are only effective against prokaryotic organisms that have the typical characteristics of a bacterial cell. They occur naturally and can also be obtained artificially by synthesizing in the laboratory. Antibacterials target specific features of bacteria, for example, the peptidoglycan cell wall, the DNA of bacteria, or metabolism that is unique to bacteria. Since antibacterials only target prokaryotic cells, they are less harmful to people. Antibacterials are found in substances, for example, soaps, ointments, and disinfectants, etc.

Types

• Bactericide: Bactericides are antibacterials that kill or completely destroy bacterial cells.
• Bacteriostatic: Bacteriostatics are antibacterials that inhibit the reproduction and growth of bacteria.

What is an antibiotic ?

Antibiotic is any drug or chemical that is used to kill bacteria, fungi and parasites etc. Thus, it means that it can be used against prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. They can also be obtained both naturally and artificially. Most antibiotics have been discovered by looking at natural organisms that fight bacteria. Antibiotics can target both bacterial peptidoglycan and fungal chitin and glucan cell walls and parasite DNA. Antibiotics are more harmful because they target both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. They can also kill helpful bacteria and can also affect the cells in our body. Antibiotics are used as medications that are taken as tablets, capsules, or intravenously.

Types

• Antibacterial: kill bacteria.
• Antifungals: kill fungi.
• Antiparasitic: kill parasites.

1. An antibacterial is a drug or chemical that is used specifically to kill bacterial cells, while an antibiotic can be defined as any drug or chemical that is used to kill bacteria, fungi, and parasites, etc.
2. Antibacterial is a subset; on the other hand; antibiotic is a superset.
3. Antibacterials target bacteria in reverse, antibiotics, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
4. Antibacterials target prokaryotic cells on the other hand; Antibiotics target both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
5. Antibacterials target the peptidoglycan cell wall, bacterial DNA and its metabolism, while antibiotics attack both bacterial peptidoglycan and fungal chitin and glycan cell walls and parasite DNA.
6. Antibacterials are found in substances that are used as soaps, ointments, and disinfectants, etc. on the other hand; Antibiotics are used as medicines that are taken in the form of tablets, capsules or intravenously.
7. Antibacterials are less harmful to people because they only target prokaryotic cells, while antibiotics are more harmful because they target both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
8. Antibacterials are divided into bactericidal and bacteriostatic, while antibiotics are divided into antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic.

Final Thoughts

From the above discussion, it is summarized that both antibacterials and antibiotics are chemicals or drugs. Antibacterial kills harmful bacteria specifically that affect our body, while an antibiotic is a broad term that includes all antibacterials, antifungals, and antiparasitics, etc.